The Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins

Latest Episodes:

Episode 42- Gary Gulman May 10, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of the Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins, the guys sit for an interview with Gary Gulman, a standup comedian and mental health advocate, who happens to love basketball. Gary discusses his short-lived D1 football career, the first time he ever heard of Rex, and how he learned to overcome anxiety and depression.

Follow Gary on Twitter and check out his HBO special "Gary Gulman: The Great Depresh" on HBO Max.

01:00 - Rex and Josh discuss Chris Paul's altercation with a Dallas fan.

09:20 - Gary Gulman remembers reading about Rex in scouting magazines before he even went to Kentucky.

12:00 - Rex discusses how long it took him to realize he was struggling with mental health.

17:00 - Gary's HBO special "The Great Depresh" was really impactful on Josh

25:45 - Rex talks about a panic attack episode he had at Kentucky

30:00 - Gary discusses how young people today are so open with discussing their fears and struggles, he recalls being afraid to let other male athletes know that he drank Sprite. The guys think about how the "Bob Knight" style of coaching affected players and young athletes.

35:40 - Rex tells his own Bob Knight story

52:45 - Being from the Boston area, Gary of course is choosing the Celtics as his NBA champion this year.

53:45 - Gary wants to know if we'll ever see another Steph Curry?

56:00 - Gary points out the evolution of the game and Rex recalls some classic players who would have fit perfectly today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 41- Will Perdue May 07, 2022

Show notes

On the latest episode of The Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins, the guys are joined by 4-time NBA Champion Will Perdue, who was a key piece during the Bulls' first 3-peat. Will discusses his NBA career, attributing his basketball success to the state of Kentucky, becoming an analyst with the Chicago Bulls, the 2022 NBA Playoffs and more.

You can follow Will Perdue on Twitter and Instagram

11:30 - How Will came to play basketball in a football and baseball obsessed Florida. Was it just because he ultimately became the tallest in his grade?

17:00 - Thanks to his late growth spurt, Will discussed how he became consumed with basketball, progressed through high school and ended up at Vanderbilt University.

35:30 - Will attributes part of his success to the state of Kentucky, and he mentions how nationally, its perception doesn't match what he's come to learn about the great people there.

35:00 - Rex and Will trade stories of when they realized that basketball can be easy and fun, but if they wanted to be their best they needed to be all in. Iron sharpens iron and they both recognized they needed to be better players.

43:10 - Will discusses when he joined the Bulls and how he had to work on his game, and his relationship with Michael Jordan.

49:50 - While fostering a relationship with MJ took time and sweat equity, Will mentions he was fortunate to have Bill Cartwright, BJ Armstrong and other players that helped him become a pro.

57:00 - Time and time again Will was presented with a challenge to be a better player and he had to do everything he could to make sure he could reach those heights.

1:03:30 - Who wins the NBA Finals according to Will Perdue? Is it one of the teams out of the East or Rex's Suns?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 40- BJ Armstrong Apr 27, 2022

Show notes

On the latest episode of the Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins, the guys are joined by 3x NBA Champion BJ Armstrong, who still keeps himself a part of the game as an agent and broadcaster. What did he take from his time with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls that he still keeps with him to this day?

7:30 - BJ goes back to growing up in Detroit, MI and what it meant to be a fan of the Detroit Pistons. Even when he came to town with the Bulls, his parents were rooting for the Bad Boy Pistons to win. Being an underdog was something you embraced and wore with honor.

12:00 - Rex, BJ and Josh all commiserate over the early exits for both Kentucky and Iowa from the NCAA Tournament.

13:45 - With so many iconic players coming from Michigan, BJ never thought he was as good as Magic Johnson or George Gervin, so he never thought he was special, but he just wanted to prove himself on the court.

17:00 - After being turned away by Michigan and Michigan State, BJ brought the same drive and competitiveness to Iowa City, and was able to establish himself as one of the Iowa greats.

20:30 - BJ gives Rex some credit for the way he played, and what a perfect fit he would have been in today's modern NBA. If Rex compared BJ to CJ McCollum, who does BJ think plays the most like Rex?

26:00 - What is it about the playoffs where the game gets back to the fundamentals? You've already seen this postseason that it comes down to defending, rebounding and passing the ball.

29:30 - BJ's "Welcome To The NBA" moment didn't even happen on the court. There was a bit of an adjustment to traveling in and out of Chicago O'Hare airport.

34:40 - The Brooklyn Nets collapse against Boston makes us want to point the finger and figure out who to blame. Kevin Durant would admit he didn't play well, and not having Kyrie Irving or Ben Simmons consistently made it hard for everyone to get on the same page.

39:30 - What is it about today's game where guys aren't going to suit up unless they are 100% available? Wilt Chamberlain played in Converse Cons, Rex and BJ flew charter, so what is happening to players today where they can't or won't perform?

44:30 - The biggest change BJ has seen from his time in the league to now covering the league is how everything happens in real time. Whether it's Woj Bombs or other pieces of NBA reporting, you have to react to social media as it happens in the moment.

45:00 - As an agent, BJ has to advise his players, but at the same time allow them to be themselves. He can see the effects of what time spent online can do to them. There are a number of business decisions every player has to make as they get to the NBA and it doesn't work for everyone.

49:00 - Compared to a "Welcome To The NBA" moment, BJ talks about his "Welcome To Michael" moment, and what it was about Jordan that separated him from the rest of the NBA as a competitor.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 39 - Kenny Anderson Apr 13, 2022

Show notes

On the latest episode of the Rex Chapman show with Josh Hopkins, the guys are joined by Mr Chibbs himself, Kenny Anderson. One of the most celebrated high school players there ever was, and now the Head Coach at Fisk University, Kenny has always been dedicated to basketball and it has taken him a long way from Queens. Since finishing his NBA career, the story of Mr. Chibbs has been celebrated for both the basketball success as well as dark moments that have made him the person he is today.

2:00 - NBA Playoff Preview

17:00 - While Rex was connected to Kenny through their mutual friend Sam Bowie, Rex asks Josh, when was the first time he had heard of Kenny Anderson?

20:00 - What was it like being the number one basketball player in the country? Without social media, Kenny talked about being in every newspaper and magazine and word traveled fast outside of New York City.

24:00 - How Bobby Cremins was able to convince Kenny, and his mother, to go to Georgia Tech and why it was such a great fit for him.

27:30 - Rex and Kenny reflect on how the NBA has changed since they played, with the emphasis on handle, pick and roll and 3-point shooting. Kenny calls it like it is, it's a softer game since he played.

30:00 - How Kenny is trying to change the culture of Fisk Basketball, and he really feels like he belongs at a small school that has been known historically for its academics.

31:30 - Kenny admits he had to harbor the darkness in his life because he was focused on basketball and for providing for his mother.

35:00 - His infamous "Welcome to the NBA" moment was in his rookie season with the Nets. He had been riding the bench after being the best player every time the ball was tipped since he was 15 years old.

38:00 - How Kenny has been taking care of himself in the last couple years since suffering a stroke. After feeling scared and vulnerable, he knew he had to make a few positive changes and put a fresh perspective on his life.

40:30 - How tough of a decision it was for Kenny to leave Georgia Tech after just two seasons. Playing with Dennis Scott and Brian Oliver, and making the Final Four in his freshman year, Kenny said it was some of the best times in his life.

43:30 - What is next for Kenny as he's transitioned into the next phase of his life. It's so important for him to have these kids as an outlet to share his story and his passion for the game of basketball.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 38 - Final 4 Weekend Apr 01, 2022

Show notes

On the latest episode of the Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins, the guys count down an incredible Final Four in the NCAA Tournament. It's four Blue Bloods, headlined by the first NCAA Tournament matchup for Duke and North Carolina in their storied history, plus Kansas and Villanova. There are 3 games left for March Madness and we are amped for the action in NOLA.

3:30 - The guys start in Josh's industry, with the "Slap Heard Round The World" at the Oscars. It's hard to imagine how Will Smith and Chris Rock are in this situation now, at this stage of their careers.

9:00 - With four Blue Bloods in the Final Four, the guys feel a little upset the Kentucky Wildcats aren't included in the festivities.

16:30 - With the teams left standing, Rex finds himself rooting for Coach K and Duke, but honestly, anyone but Kansas.

21:30 - The rise of Hubert Davis and how he was able to guide this team into the Final Four in his first season taking over for Roy Williams.

23:30 - With the Final Four back in New Orleans, the guys reminisce about meeting each other for the first time at Kentucky's last championship, now a decade ago.

29:00 - Rex gives his insight on UNC-Duke and just where Duke is now after they were embarrassed at Cameron Indoor for Coach K's final home game.

32:30 - Kansas and Villanova can't be slept on either, and Rex is just enamored with Mitch Lightfoot who will be playing his 166th game with the Jayhawks. The point is, these are older, more experienced teams than both Duke and UNC.

40:00 - Josh and Rex go rapid fire on the National Championship, and who are the best coaches and players left in the Final Four.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 37 - Sweet 16 Preview Mar 23, 2022

Show notes

On the latest episode of the Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins, the guys commiserate over the Kentucky Wildcats loss to St. Peter's, and what it's like for Rex covering the NCAA after his team was knocked out early! With The Sweet 16 set, the guys preview the upcoming matchups, and on the bright side, at least Rex's Championship pick Arizona are still dancing.

1:30 - Getting it out of the way, the guys discuss the incredible upset by St Peter's, and how tough it was with the Kentucky Wildcats knocked out of the NCAA Tournament.

7:30 - You can criticize John Calipari's performance in this NCAA Tournament, you can't call for his job. Kentucky isn't a program for everyone, and who else out there can do a better job?

15:00 - College Basketball in this era has been about coaching, and the NCAA Tournament has shown that a good coach can give you a chance in any game. Programs with prestige and great recruiting can find themselves in a tough matchup no matter their seed.

17:00 - Rex was so proud of Kenny Payne becoming the first black Head Coach at the University of Louisville. One of the rare times you can root for that team 60 miles away from Lexington.

22:00 - The guys preview the Sweet 16, with a number of matchups they're focused on with unlikely runs coming from North Carolina, Iowa State, Michigan and Miami.

27:00 - Rex admits he would be fine with Duke making an NCAA Championship run in Coach K's final season. Mike Krzyzewski has been the best coach of this generation and would finish his storied career on the mountaintop. Josh can't really get on board.

33:00 - Rex and Josh are pretty excited to see a number of programs go back to their star players and hire them as head coaches including guys like Ed Cooley, Penny Hardaway or Mike Woodson.

44:00 - LeBron James has officially taken over as the NBA's leading scorer after returning home to Cleveland and laying waste to his former Cavaliers.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 36 - March Madness Preview Mar 15, 2022

Show notes

On the latest episode of the Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins, the guys are getting ready for March Madness! They break down some of their favorite teams, their favorite players and what they think of their Kentucky Wildcats for the NCAA Tournament.

1:00 - Rex talks about his new show for CNN and what everyone has in store for when Rex goes Big Time!

5:00 - It's Rex-a-tology! What are some of Rex Chapman's insights on the upcoming NCAA Tournament?

8:00 - EAST: If Baylor wants to repeat as NCAA Tournament Champions, they have to get through Kentucky in the East region. Just because Baylor has been banged up this year, it doesn't mean they aren't a scary team to make another run. UCLA is as dangerous now as they've been all season long, getting healthy at the right time while building off their Final Four run from last year.

15:00 - WEST: Is this the year Gonzaga finally wins the National Championship? What type of impact does Chet Holmgren provide for this team compared to the Jalen Suggs led team from last year?

25:00 - MIDWEST: After watching Kansas get blown out by Kentucky during this season, Rex is confident they don't get out of the bracket. They might even struggle against San Diego State or Creighton, no matter who wins that 8/9 matchup. Wisconsin and Providence both could make it out as long as they can control the style of games they play in. Wisconsin wants to slow down games as much as possible. Rex gives you his favorite matchup of the entire first round.

38:00 - SOUTH: Rex's pick to win the NCAA Tournament, Arizona, only goes all the way with a healthy Kerr Kriisa, who has been erratic, but has also opened up the rest of that offense with legitimate NBA players like Bennedict Mathurian. Who are the teams that could break Rex's bracket? It begins with Villanova and Tennessee, who were criminally under-seeded.

51:30 - While it's easy to go chalk with your brackets, in a year with so much uncertainty about who the best team is, you have to keep your eyes on a handful of upsets. The true joy to March Madness is the unknown of what happens when the lights are on, when for a majority of these players, could be the last basketball game they ever play.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 35- Caron Butler Mar 05, 2022

Show notes

On the latest episode episode of the Rex Chapman Podcast, the guys are joined by former NBA Champion and now Assistant Coach of the Miami Heat, Caron Butler. After a great career playing, Caron talks about staying in basketball, and how sharing his personal story of Tuff Juice has impacted so many people around him.

You Can Follow Caron Butler on Twitter and Instagram

5:45 - With a couple of Wildcats on the 1st Place Heat, the guys have to know what's going on with Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro as the Heat have been playing great basketball as of late.

9:40 - Caron details his story growing up in Racine, WI and the realities of having guns, drugs and a rap sheet by his teenage years. It wasn't until he joined the Lakers where he was able to speak his truth, and share it with everyone he could.

14:40 - What started Caron on that path to hustling and dealing drugs? It took a long time before basketball gave him the same rush that being on the streets did. Basketball provided him a path for him to get out of the game.

21:40 - Caron's relationship with Mark Wahlberg as a friend and how they became partners in developing his story "Tuff Juice" and creating it into a Hollywood movie.

27:00 - How Caron ended up going to UCONN and what was it about Jim Calhoun's recruiting pitch that separated him from all the other offers he received?

35:00 - Caron was off to the NBA but watched his teammates with the National Championship. He didn't feel like he missed out, but he knew his fingerprints were all over their collective success. It also was a great feeling when Coach Calhoun sent him a Championship ring.

39:20 - How Caron has used his platform to influence positive changes to our legal system including mass incarceration, prosecutorial reform and policing reform. People need rehabilitation more than they need punishment.

45:00 - Caron and Rex share stories about Kobe Bryant and when he really came into his own with the Mamba Mentality.

50:00 - For Caron, Kobe Bryant was a teammate, a friend, a mentor and more importantly his inspiration. He could be content with being one of the great players in the history of the game, but it wasn't enough. Caron asked himself what am I going to do next to stay hungry and stay motivated?

52:30 - As far as Caron is concerned, he just thought his Mavericks were a better team than the Miami Heat when they won that title. It was Rick Carlisle who leaned into the matchup with the Big Three, saying how important his Mavericks were for protecting the integrity of the NBA.

54:30 - Caron details how his Heat stack up in a loaded Eastern Conference with the 76ers and Nets both getting better at the trade deadline, plus the Bucks Bulls, Cavaliers and Celtics who have played good basketball all year long.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 34- Tim Legler Feb 19, 2022

Show notes

On the latest episode of the Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins, the guys are joined by former NBA sharp shooter and current NBA Broadcaster Tim Legler! The guys catch up on the first half of the NBA season and what Tim expects over All-Star Weekend from Cleveland. As for the rest of the year, who are the legit Finals contenders?

23:00 - Tim grew up wanting to become a professional baseball player, and he was convinced he was going to play in the MLB. Basketball didn't really come around for Tim until he hit his growth spurt in his freshman year of high school.

26:30 - Basketball was so rewarding for Tim because he didn't need anyone else shagging fly balls, or throwing batting practice, to help him get better. He just needed a ball, a hoop and some sneakers.

29:30 - Since Tim picked up basketball so late, he said it honestly helped him because he never developed any bad habits while perfecting his shooting mechanics.

33:00 - Rex and Tim share their stories from 5-Star Basketball camps throughout their High School years. They share stories about La Salle playing UNC and the comparisons Tim got to the great Jeff Lebo.

46:00 - As Tim's knee injuries cost him his playing career, he began to think about his next career. It wasn't broadcasting right away either. He attended the Wharton Business School's Executive program to figure out his life's next venture.

59:00 - Tim says his next venture is to be a Head Coach in college, and was so close after he was runner-up for both the Duquesne and La Salle jobs.

1:04:00 - Tim picks the Golden State Warriors to win the NBA Championship because they're the only contender that still isn't at full strength. Klay and Kuminga are getting stronger, and Draymond and Wiseman are still going to return soon.

1:08:00 - The bottom line is Brooklyn and Philadelphia are going to be set on a collision course for the postseason. Harden and Embiid have both struggled in the postseason before, and they need to prove they can play all the way through a postseason at an elite level. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have both already proven that on the way to winning championships.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 33- Tim Couch Feb 11, 2022

Show notes

On the latest episode of the Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins, the guys are gearing up for the Super Bowl with Kentuckuy Legend and former No 1 overall pick Tim Couch. The guys talk to Tim about how he put Kentucky Football on the map, how his NFL career didn't go the way he wanted and why he continues to celebrate the game of football. With Super Bowl 56 right around the corner, what makes Joe Burrow so special?

You can follow Tim Couch on Twitter and Instagram

13:30 - Tim realized pretty early on he was a great athlete, but he thought it was just because he grew up in a small town in Kentucky. It wasn't until he started going to football and basketball camps, playing against better competition, when he realized he was really special.

16:30 - Being a quarterback was always comfortable for Tim, but he grew up wanting to become the next Rex Chapman. Rex and Rick Pitino did everything they could to get Tim to become a Wildcat.

21:30 - As the National player of the year, it was a tough decision for Tim to decide on where to go to college. With offers from some of the best programs in the country, why did he commit to a 1-win Kentucky football program?

24:30 - After a tough freshman year, Tim speaks to the commitment Kentucky gave him in hiring Hal Mumme and Mike Leach to run the air raid offense and how they unlocked the Number 1 passing offense in all of college football.

30:30 - How close was Tim Couch to becoming Mr Kentucky in both Football and Basketball?

42:30 - Part of the appeal of going to Kentucky was not only going to his home-state school, but he wanted to make an impact and put that program on the map. Now with Mark Stoops, the program has taken the next step to where they are a legitimate SEC contender year after year.

45:15 - Tim describes the process he went through before being the No 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. After being built up his entire life, the NFL was breaking him down, trying to find any flaws they could when comparing him to Donovan McNabb and Akili Smith.

49:40 - Rex and Tim speak to the opportunities and responsibilities that come with playing a sport at the highest levels. Whether it was playing at Kentucky or professionally, there's no handbook on growing up fast, handling pressure as a teenager or a 20-something year old.

56:20 - How familiar was Tim with the Cleveland Browns' history before he was drafted as the face of the franchise? Rex describes what it was like when he was the first-ever pick of the Charlotte Hornets.

1:01:20- How important it was for the city of Cleveland to finally make the playoffs in 2002 and just how frustrating it was for Tim to play all year, only to miss the team's first playoff game in decades because of a broken leg.

1:05:30 - How difficult it was for Tim to leave the NFL after multiple comeback attempts, and how becoming a father made him feel like he had a purpose beyond football.

1:12:00 - Previewing Super Bowl 56, Tim likes both QBs with Matthew Stafford's redemption story and the incredible poise of Joe Burrow.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

The Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected